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Flag of City of Cerritos (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Council to Reconsider Fees at Dec. 13th Meeting
By Jerry Bernstein
It was standing room only in the Cerritos Council Chambers Nov. 19 when angry members of the Frontier Little League confronted the Cerritos Council over proposed fee increases in order to use the city’s athletic fields.
Mayor Jim Edwards opened the meeting by saying the fees would be re-addressed at the council’s Dec. 13 meeting. He explained the council could not vote to reconsider the fees that night because the matter was not on the agenda, but would be on the Dec. 13 meeting agenda.
City Attorney Mark Steres explained under state law the council was prohibited from voting on an item unless it was on the agenda. He said the only exception was if the item was classified as an emergency. He said, “The most the council could do is put the item on a future agenda which it did tonight.”
Little League parents complained they were not notified that the fees were going to be raised, noting that their budgets were already approved for the 2013 season. They accused Recreation Director Sherry Titus of not notifying them, contradicting her statement made at the previous meeting that all the organizations that use the city’s recreation facilities had been notified.
Residents accused the Recreation Director of never notifying anyone about the fee increase. “Wasn’t it odd that no representatives of the organizations present tonight were not here at the council’s last meeting, longtime Cerritos resident Chris Borsa asked. Ms. Titus never notified anyone, although she said she did. In 2010 when this was first discussed we were told we would be notified in writing when it came before the city council. She sent out over 500 notices regarding the tennis court at Westgate Park about pickle-ballers why could you not notify us?”
Resident Sherry Wilson said she believes the problem is the council doesn’t realize how important the city parks are to the residents. “We should not penalize children from other cities who come here to play. She said if there are 10 members on a team and four live outside the city, when they play they represent Cerritos.
Swimming Coach Mark Johnson said he has been coaching swimming in Cerritos for 37 years. “We know the rates are going to go up. We also know, compared to other cities, they are very reasonable.”
Lakewood resident Christina Crenshaw said, “ Lakewood has softball, but this is one of the best baseball leagues in California. This is where I chose to enroll my seven year old. When you talk about raising fees, you have to understand when children are not involved in activities they’re going to get into trouble.” She said she realizes the city is affected by the recession, the same as families. By raising the fees some children will be forced to drop out of the program because their families will not be able to afford it. She said, “In Lakewood we charge our non-residents a little more.”
One Cerritos resident said the increase in fees may impact all the sports activities and may reverse what has been achieved to date. She said the children thrive with the recreational programs offered as well as thrive with their participations in the programs. They are recognized for their skills, accomplishments and sportsmanship.
She noted that it has become difficult for some families to have their children participate in the recreational activities because of financial difficulties. She asked the council to reconsider their vote on raising fees.
Lori Williams, PTSA President, thanked the council for placing the raise in fees back on the Dec. 13 agenda. She said when a child puts on a Cerritos uniform, it doesn’t matter what city they come from. They represent Cerritos. She said she hopes they can all work together to straighten this out.
Another parent agreed they should not raise the fees. He said the proposed fee hikes do not make any sense and would hope the city would meet the parents halfway and work with them to resolve the problem.
Another resident said the council was not given the true facts at its last meeting. “I don’t think due diligence was done.
Councilmember Mark Pulido sympathized with the parents and asked if the council could vote on the matter “tonight” under an emergency item. City Attorney Steres said it did not qualify as an emergency agenda item. The council then voted to put it on the Dec. 13 agenda, instructing staff to make its recommendations at that time.
At the previous council meeting, Councilmember Carol Chen asked if all the organization had been notified about the fee increase. She was told they had been notified.
It’s time city council members give up their lifetime benefits.
$3 Million losses at the CCPA, $3 Million dollar losses at the Magnolia Power Plant shows the obvious fiscal ignorance that goes on at city hall.
The city council needs to explain to residents how they lost tens-of-millions of dollars of city money, on bad loans to redevelopment. In a nut shell, they gambled with city money to use as corporate welfare and lost.
Now residents are being asked to pay for fiscal incompetence with higher fees.
It’s time city council members give up their lifetime benefits.
Little League baseball is a MONEY MAKER. Many people who do not actually live in the city (pay city taxes that are used to pay for the maintenance of the fields) bring their kids to play. An example of this is the Norwalk Softball Leauge and the Norwalk Oakley Stingrasys.
Their “coaches” and board members get to travel across the country be asserting that the league benefits our local children.
Those are travel ball programs you describe. These are not. Frontier Baseball and Cerritos Girls Softball are far from that. Get a clue before you opine!
Little League Baseball IS a money maker. Example, Little League World Series on ABC, Sponsors, etc…..I have a clue, want to sit down and go over the accounting books?
Never trust a CAR SALESMAN, read the fine print and the unspoken/unwritten things…….
Mr. Lee,
Thank you for once again making my point. You admit that the teams are not comprised of Cerritos residents. What is the percentage of teammates that must be on the roster to qualify for the FREE use of the city fields? My point is very simple, the organization charges fees/dues to participate. In turn, it is only right to pay a fair amount for the use of the fields. Thank You once again for making my point.
$7,000 for the use of the fields. How many kids participate in the league? Do the math, how much extra would that come out to be per parent/household? How many are sporting Coach Purses/Name brand shoes/purses? Driving BWM’s? Etc….it is all about PRIORITIES….
You mean the accounting books of Little League Baseball? Do you not understand that these groups are not affiliated with the Little League Baseball? And even if they were, what makes you think that governing bodies of these organizations kick down the local affiliates with any residual revenue they generate from such EXTREMELY rare television deals or even corporate sponsorship? You conveniently cite the exception to the rule in the case of ESPN airing a rare youth sports event, which has nothing to do with the circumstance these Cerritos groups face. You’re ignorantly making a whole lot of assumptions about… Read more »
Mr. Lee, please try to focus. First, according to the article—this issue involves the Frontier Little League? That means that individuals who participate in that league MUST reside (or have an exception granted)in the league’s district. In this case, Frontier=Cerritos. Understand Mr. Lee? Second, Cerritos demographics/income are much higher than the surrounding areas. I do have a clue of the sacrifices that parents make for their children. I was raised by a single parent. She did not always give me what I wanted but made sure I had what I needed. The ACCOUNTING BOOKS that I refer to Mr. Lee… Read more »
Yes, Mr. Lee. I do understand that the Frontier Youth Baseball is NOT affiliated with LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL. Once again, thank you for making my point.
The problem isn’t so much the city’s cost to maintain the fields as it is the misguided priorities of the city council. For instance, for nearly a decade, Bruce Barrows continues to chase the Maglev train, instead of focusing more on Cerritos. The city has spent tens of thousands over the years on this $9 to $20 Billion train. A train that, I’ve seen articles stating could take over 400 homes. One has to wonder if there is really more to this. According to news articles Barrows worked for Lockheed as a transportation consultant. Moreover, Lockheed is an early financial… Read more »
Dear Randy Economy and Protesting Parents, I would like to ask a question? Are we talking about the Frontier LITTLE LEAGUE here or are we talking about the Frontier Youth Baseball League? There IS a difference between FYB and “Little League Baseball.” FYB—- FYB is a member of Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball — elite leagues that have more than 650,000 young athletes that compete in baseball worldwide. FYB games take place in Cerritos or in nearby cities, but also offers an opportunity for some its high skilled players to participate in post season All-Star tournaments if desired. Compared… Read more »
Mr.Hylland, you should really learn more about the particulars of this situation because you’re conflating so many issues. Once again, Frontier Youth Baseball is not affiliated with Little League Baseball. That fact is only relevant since you asserted that these parents are somehow benefiting from the “big business” that this national organization generates. And even that point is off the mark since local Little Leagues act independently in terms of their finances from the larger body. With that said, I will say it again, FYB has nothing to do with Little League. Secondly, it is clear that you are suggesting… Read more »
Thanks Mr. Lee, you made my point exactly. Frontier YOUTH BASEBALL is NOT Little League Baseball and FYB actively recruits from outside the city limits…….Charging for the City library, not a bad idea. I believe that they already do?!?!??!?!
Mr. Lee, Is it really that difficult for you to stay FOCUSED? Once again THANK YOU for making my point. The City of Cerritos does in fact have a beautiful library it is incredible. Taking a class at Cerritos College allows me to secure a student library card. Otherwise I would have to pay the $100 fee to check out books. As you mentioned, there is no fee/cost to utilize the Cerritos City Library.I would gladly pay my fair share to use the Cerritos City Library. in a class at Cerritos College allows me to utilize the library as a… Read more »
Everyone needs to understand that Mark Hylland does not live in Cerritos. He lives in Norwalk and does not have any children so he would not know the sacrifices that parents make.
Dear Carpetbagger, I never claimed to live in Cerritos. You are correct, I live in Norwalk. I do NOT hide in cyberland as you do. Why don’t you list your real name? You pretend to know me but you don’t. I do have a child with one on the way and do know the sacrifices that a parent makes for their children. Next move Carpet Bagger.
Hey Carpet Baggers,
Come on back over here where you act like you know who I am. In another recent posting you assert that you do not even know who I am. Having a Scott Collins moment?
Mr. Lee, thank you for making my point. Contrary to the headlines, your organization is NOT Little League but rather YOUTH BASEBALL that recruits from other cities. As far as charging residents to use the Cerritos City Library, not a bad idea at all. In fact, I believe they already do charge to have a library card????
This is getting rich. All sports leagues (except for Little League)cater to kids from outside their town. Little League sets boundaries (not always drawn within a city’s limits hence Cerritos-ARTESIA Little League) So your comment is not a revelation. Cerritos makes their leagues keep a certain amount of residents in order to get fields. Your musings about a town you evidently know little about are mildly entertaining. Cerritos library cards are FREE to residents and those attending school in Cerritos. Those who do not, pay the $100 fee to borrow books. No one pays to use all the high-tech stuff.… Read more »
I live in Cerritos and I wouldn’t mind paying for things the city provides if the city is upfront about it. The city needs money right now and we should pay our fair share. I just think that government should be transparent about their dealings and according to the article I think the families got flim-flammed a bit.
Very well said Dylan. However, there are many more details that were not mentioned in the article and perhaps a few errors/oversights that were provided to the author by the protestors.